Means for erecting precast walls



- 0. A. BAR'II'HOLOMEW 2,799,404

. MEANS FOR smzormc PRECAST WALLS July 16, 1957 Filed Sept 3, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BARTHOLOMEW BY V ,I I 7 a? A'GEMT' ORLO A.

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MEANS FOR ERECTING PRECAST WALLS Filed Sept. 5. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 34l 1 '7 36 I I ,l/zl f F 4| I F 74 L w r. Q i 6 /I l l 1 /2Q- I INVENTORBY M67742 ORLO H. BARTHOL OM95 United States Patent 2,799,404 MEANS FORERECTING PRECAST WALLS Orlo A. Bartholomew, Riverdale, Md.

Application September 3, 1953, Serial No. 378,389 1 Claim. (Cl. 214-1)This invention appertains to improvements in present methods and meansfor raising precast walls from a horizontal position on the site to avertical set in place position.

All of the conventional methods and means for erecting such structures,while differing somewhat in details and procedures, have in commoncertain disadvantages, such as the use of mobile cranes, requiring ahighly paid operator and a large crew, necessitating moving the craneeach time a wall is lifted and requiring a large amount of room formanipulation of the crane, which, furthermore, cannot operate duringinclement weather. Additionally, with a mobile crane, the point of liftis not from a rigid support.

Most constructions require the use of large cranes, since simpleequipment such as hand-operated inside tilting masts, are onlyoperationally feasible when small panels are being erected. However, ithas been found that a lift from inside the structure is more efficientbut, with panels of any appreciable size, such inside lift cannot bepresently achieved since cranes and other heavy equipment, which arerequired to provide the lifting force, cannot be positioned inside abuilding for they will overstress the floor. Also, even with smallpanels in the erection of small buildings, tilting from the inside withsmall equipment, that will not overstress the floor, has a tremendousdisadvantage, since such equipment will cause interference with otherconstruction work. Thus, though a lift from the inside is known to bethe most advantageous, no present method or means has been provided torealize it without the disadvantages referred to above.

Therefore, the primary object of my invention is to provide a method andmeans for obtaining an inside lift which method and means can beemployed with panels of any type or size in the erection of large orsmall buildings.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rigidly supported hoistmeans so that the point of lift is from a rigid support and to providemeans for moving leads from the hoist means as the panels are erected.

A further object of my invention is to provide a frame which can beeasily and inexpensively erected over the floor in a manner to enclosethe building and which will support the leads in an adjustable manner sothat the leads can be moved from an erected panel longitudinally ortransversely of a building to be attached to a horizontally disposedadjoining panel. In this regard, the point of lift remains rigidly fixedand the leads are moved along the frame to be attached to subsequentpanels.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a cover for theframe so that the building is covered against inclement weather to makeit possible to maintain an uninterrupted working schedule. 7

A still further object of my invention is to providea new method-andmeans' for-tilting the'walls or panels from horizontal positions toerected vertical positions and also for lifting the panels fromhorizontal positions to vertical in place positions, which method andmeans embody a rigid hoist that is connected to the panels by adjustableleads which are carried by a framework enclosing the building.

These and ancillary objects are attained by this invention, thepreferred embodiments of which are set forth in the followingdescription and illustrated in the acompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of the frame-work enclosing thebuilding, which is diagrammatically shown, the wall panels being shownin end elevation resting horizontally on the floor and shown in dottedlines in their subsequent partly raised and set in place positions,achieved by means of the leads from a fixed hoist means;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the frame-work;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showingone of the panels resting horizontally on the floor, and showing themanner of attaching a lead to the panel;

Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 44 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detailed fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line55 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed showing of the castor means on the lowerend of one of the panels which is raised to a vertical set in placeposition.

Referring now more particularly to the acompanying drawings, the numeral10 designates a building which is constructed by having its walls caston the site in a horizontal position, erected to a vertical set in placeposition and made an integral part of the structure.

Such construction involves the placement of a form on the concrete floorslab 12, after bond preventative material has been spread on the slaband the pouring of concrete in the form to make the wall panel. Thereare many methods and means for so forming the panel, but this inventionis applicable to wall panels irrespective of their construction. Afterthe panel is finished, it is raised from its horizontal position on thefloor slab conventionally by cranes outside the building or by smallinside equipment, useable only with small panels, to a verticalposition. It is braced in such position until connecting columns or thelike securing means, which is the final operation, are poured and whichare in many differing ways, structurally made a part of theerectedpanels.

The present invention is primarily concerned with the provision of meansfor erecting or raising the wall panels and such means embodies a frameor frame-work 14. The frame 14 is mounted so that it straddles thebuilding and includes a number of longitudinally spaced invertedsubstantially U-shaped struss members or arches 16.

Each arch includes a pair of complementary channel shaped sections 18and 20, which are identically formed and have vertical sections orstandards 22, 24 and upwardly inclined, inwardly directed ends 26, 28.

The standards are suitably anchored on footings 30 formed alongside andspaced outwardly from the floor slab 12 and are vertically positionedalongside the building. Reinforcing webs 32 are provided between theupper portions of the vertical sections or standards 22, 24 and the ends26, 28. The terminal portions of the ends are overlapped and are formedwith axially spaced openings 31, 33 to receive a connecting and securingfastener 34. p q p The terminal portions are held together by aconnecting plate 36 that has crossed channels 38 and 40 to receive theportions and has a central opening to receive the fastener. The purposeof the plate is to rigidifythe ends 26 and 28 and the spaced openings 31and 33 are provided so that the distance between the standards can beadjusted in conformance with the dimension of a building therebetween.

One manner of raising the wall panels is shown in connection- ,with theright side wall panel 42 of Fig. l, the panel has its exterior surfacelying flat on the floor 12 and the panel is pulled upwardly about itslower-end 44 into a vertical set in place position. The panel 42 isformed of any desired materials which are molded within a form 46 on thefloor 12. Acoinnecting member 48 for a lift (not shown) lead 50 isreleasably attached to the form and spans the interior surface 52 of thepanel. The connecting member, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, includes a pairof parallel cross bars 54 and 56 which are connected by rigidifyingcenterand end bars 58, 60 and 62, respectively, that extendlongitudinally of the panel 42. The ends of the bat-s54 and 56 overhangthe sides of the panel and are secured by J-bolt 64 to the form. In thisfashion, the lifting stress of the lead 50 is transferred longitudinallyand transversely of the form, which cradles the panel. Lifting stresseson the panel are eliminated due to the transfer of stress on the formand also because no attachment is made to the finished wall surface. Ofcourse, theconnecting means can be easily adjusted to fit panels ofvarying widths by providing simple telescopic or extensible extensionsfor the bars 54 and 56.

Eyes 66 or similar structural elements are received at the center lineof the connecting means and, as shown in Fig. 3, are attached to the bar54 at its center and to the projecting upper end of the center bar 58.The eyes 66 receive the eye ends 68 ofa flexible member 70, on which apulley 72 rides. The pulley is attached by its holder 74 to the lead 50,which extends from a rigidly supported and fixedlylocated winch,preferably positioned outside the. other side of the. building, thoughit may easily be set up within the building.

Ibeam 76 issecured to the ends as of the arches, as shown,v for exampleinFigs. l and 5. The I beam, which extends longitudinallyof the buildingand transversely of the arches, is preferably located at the center ofthe arches and onthe ends. of. each section of an arch above the Webs32.Rollers 78 and 80, mounted. on a common shaft 82,. are rotatablypositioned on the upper surface ofthe. lower horizontal flange 83 of theI beam. The shaft 82 extends through the free ends of a U-shaped holder84 which supports a guide pulley 86 at its web, the pulley beingarranged at right angles to the rollers or parallelingthe arches. Thelead 50 is reeved over the Pulleys on the I-beam and is therebysupported by the arches between the panel and the lift, that is thewinch.

Inthis respect, one advantage of the guide pulleys 86 being mounted formovement longitudinally of the build ing residesin the fact that thepoint of lift remains fixed and rigid, while the lead can be moved alongto be attached by the connecting means to other adjoining panels.

From. the prone position, full line position of Fig. 1, the. panel 42 israised by the lead-50, as it is wound on the winch, to the half-raisedposition indicated by dotted lines. In moving, it will be noted that thelower end 44 of the panel has to slide on the floor 12 and to enable thesliding action to be performed easily, without frictional drag andwithout damage to such end, a center roller support 88 is provided. Asshown in detail in Fi. 6, the roller support 88 includes a U-shapedbracket 90 which'has its legs fitted over the form and interior surfaceofthe panel. The leg overlying such panel surface carries a set screw 92to lock the bracket in place. An arm 94 projects from the web andcarries a roller 96, which ris adapted to roll on the floor, as shown inFig. 1. As the panel is pulled upwardly, the pulley 72 rides upwardlyand. outwardly on the flexible member 70 and theroller96 rolls on .thefloor. A direct vertical pull is imparted to the form and panel due tothe fact that the guide pulley 86 dies directly in the vertical planewhich the panel will occupy when it is in its erected or set in placeposition.

Thus, the flexible member 70 and the pulley 72 on the end of the lead 50and the guide pulley 86 in its relative position to the panel are ofutmost importance in insuring that a smooth, friction free vertical pullwill be exerted on the form and panel. By having the guide pulley 86directly overhead, the lifting starts from a vertical position ratherthan at an angle as is necessary when the equipment is outside thebuilding. Such vertical lift is maintained from the prone to theupright, erected position of the panel due to the guide pulley 86 andthe flexible member 70 and the lead pulley 72. When the panel is in avertical position, it is raised so that the roller support 38 can beloosened and knocked off. Then, the panel is lowered till its lower end44 sets in place. Conventional stabilizing means are then used tosupport the panel in such position with the connecting member 48 beingremoved by loosening the J-bolts 64. The next panel can then be raisedand erected in the same manner.

In Fig. l, considering the left side wall panel 100, a tilt-up means isillustrated, which while slightly differing in structural details fromthe lift up means hereinbefore described, involves the essential insideand vertical lift method from a rigid, fixed winch by means of the framework 14 and the use of the connecting member 48 shown diagrammatically,and the lead line 59" and its pulley 72 and flexible member '70 (showndiagrammatically so as to not confuse the illustration and identical tothe showing in connection with panel 42).

The panel 100 has its lower end positioned horizontally above its seat,whereas the lower end 44 of the panel 42 is moved from a positioninwardly of the floor 12 to its seat at the outside thereof. Theconnecting member 48 is, therefore, attached to the form at the upperend thereof and spans the exterior surface of the panel.

The lead 50* is reeved on guide pulleys 102 and 104 which are carried byand depend from a carrier 106. The carrier is flexible and inherentlyresilient and is slidably disposed on one section of the arch to slidefrom the end 28 down to assume a vertical position on the standard 24.Suitable conventional locking means may be employed to lock the carrierin place, though the frictional force exerted under the resilienttension of the carrier will be sufficient to hold it in selectedpositions, such tension being overcome by manual force, directly appliedor indirectly applied by means of a cable.

The carrier 106, when the panel 100 is in its prone position, ispositioned directly over the center thereof between its. ends, so thatthe lead 50 extends slightly outwardly from the panel. This outwardrelation of the lead to the panel is maintained throughout the liftingof the panel (see the relative dotted line position of the panel andcarrier in Fig. 1) until the panel is in its final, erected position.

The carrier thus insures that a pull inside the building is exertedonthepanel from a fixed lift as the panel is tilted'up to its verticalposition.

With either the lift or tiit means, it is to be noted that the pull isalways continuous and smooth so that the panel or its form are notover-stressed and that the guide means for either the lead 50 or 5 3enable an inside pull to be exerted on the panels from a fixed lift,which may be positioned inside the building or outside. Regardless ofthe site of the lift, the pull by the lead is from inside. Only thewinch would be outside, all other hoist equipment being inside and beingsupported by the framework. 14.

In this respect, to provide a continuous and uninterruptedWork-schedule, which is presently interrupted by rain, bright sun andthe like weather forces, a tarpaulin 108 is provided and is stretchedover theframe-work. If desired, it may; even beextended to enclose thewinch and preferably would be so extended. The tarpaulin overlies thecenter of the arches and is stretched taut above the arches andanchored, in a conventional manner, to the ground. Only an extremelystrong wind would cause any stoppage of work.

The first step in forming the building is the conventional one ofpouring the floor slab 12 and then the footings for the arches arepoured and the arches are erected. The wall panels are then formed anderected in place, after which any type of roof is secured to the wallpanels. The arches are then dismantled and removed.

While the best known form of my invention has been shown in the drawingsand described herein, other forms may be realized as come within thescope of the invention defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

In an apparatus for erecting rigid wall panels in forming the walls of abuilding comprising at least a pair of spaced parallel substantiallyU-shaped members adapted to be mounted in a position straddling abuilding, each of said U-shaped members comprising substantiallyvertical legs and upwardly and inwardly extending end portions formingan apex, a connecting and securing plate for receiving the end portionsat said apex, said end portions each having spaced aligned openings, afastener passing through openings in said end portions and an opening insaid plate whereby the height and width of said U- shaped members may beadjusted, a beam rigidly connected to said members inwardly and adjacentthe vertical legs of adjoining members, and extending transverselythereof, a carrier slidably carried by said beam and including a pulleyrotatable about an axis paralleling said beam, a rigid support adaptedto be secured to a wall panel, and a lead reeved over the pulley on saidcarrier, means connecting said lead at one end to said rigid support andadapted at the other end to be connected to a Windlass.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS449,043 Howard Mar. 24, 1891 1,326,400 Halverson et a1. Dec. 30, 19191,519,248 Fox Dec. 16, 1924 1,798,456 Carroll Mar. 31, 1931 FOREIGNPATENTS 571,140 France Ian. 28, 1924 OTHER REFERENCES Concrete, December1934, p. 22.

